Machine for setting spiral springs



(No Model.)

I A. 0. WALKER. u MACHINE POR'SETTING SPIRAL SPRINGS. No. 318,330.Patented May 19, 1885.

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UNrTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASA O. WALKER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR SETTING SPIRAL SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,330, dated May 19,1885.

Application filed January 7, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASA O. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Presses; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

. exact description of the invention, such as will and improved pressfor enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

Thisinvention consists in providing a new pressing coiled springs-such,for instance, as bed springs and upholsterers springs.

Springs of the class above named are generally constructed in thefollowing manner: They are first formed by coiling the wire on a mandrelof proper shape. Then the loose end of the wire is bent around the lastcoil, so as to fasten it. The spring is then properly tempered, and thenit is pressed.

The operation of pressing is generally performed by hand in thefollowing manner: The operator stands the spring up on a bench or table,and with a hand-presser, which he grasps in both hands, he presses thespring down flat on the table, taking care that the coils go downevenly, so that when it recoils it will stand straight. Any variationfrom a perfectly perpendicular movement down which will throw the coilsto one side, so they will lie eccentrically, will cause the spring tostand inclined when it recoils, which defect will have to be remedied byfurther manipulation of-the' spring; hence it is that the operation ofpressing springs requires skill and a good deal of care.

The object of my invention is to provide a press which will compress thespring truly without the exercise of care or skill by the operator, andthus produce springs uniformly of proper shape and with greaterrapidity.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:Figures 1 and 2 are each side views with the frame in vertical section.In Fig. 1 the press is in position to receive a spring, and in Fig. 2 itis shown as when a spring is compressed. Fig. 5 shows a spring before itis pressed, and Fig. 6 after it has been pressed. Fig. 3 is a View ofthe guide (Seen in Figs. 1 and 2.) Fig.

or mandrel C.

(No model.)

4 is a top. or plan view of the stand 13, onto which the spring isflattened by the presser D.

The device here shown is intended to be operated by a treadle, (notshown,) which connects with the rod D"; but the means by which the pressis operated is not material, as it can be operated by hand or bymechanical power. The essential features are the presser D, the stand B,and guide or mandrel G, and they may be mounted and operated in variousways, as may be desired.

The construction and operation are as follows: A A is a stand or table.A are uprights, having thereon guides a a for guiding thevertically-reciprocating presser D. A is a piece of framework, whichsupports a gagescrew, o the use of which will be explained further on. Ais an arm-like part 'of the fi-ame-work,which supports thelever Diwhichmoves the presser. D is a rod connecting the lever D with the operatingtreadle or other actuating device. (1 is a counter-weight,which reactsthe lever D D is a link connecting the lever D with the presser D. B isthe press stand, which is mounted on the table A A. b b b b are fingerswhich stand up around the press-stand,and serve the same as a flangewould to hold the spring from slipping sidewise on the stand. I) b b bare slots in the top of the stand for the passage of the mandrel. O isthe mandrel,which has a point or head, 0, wings a c c c, and a stem, 0'.O is a lever, which is connected with the stem 0 by links G and O is aspring, which reacts the said lever C and moves the mandrel 0 up. On theapex of a conical spring, such as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is a loopor eye, which is at one side of the center of the coil. On the face ofthe presser D is a pin, d, set at one side of the center, which is ofthe proper size to enter the loop in the apex of the spring.

In Fig. l the parts are shown in position to with it, and when it hasreached its limit the spring lies in a flat coil between the presser andthe face of the stand, and the mandrel is depressed below the face ofthe stand. This position of parts is shown in Fig. 2, (the spring notbeing shown.) longer than the diameter of the wire forming the spring,and the mandrel should not be permitted to go down farther than to bringits point 0 even, or about even, with the face of the stand B. The screwa is for the purpose of properly gaging the limit of downward movementof the mandrel. The downward movement of the presser should be quick, soas to give the loop of the spring, as it strikes the point cof themandrel, a sharp blow. The

face of the point 0 of the mandrel is parallel with the face of thepresser D and the face of the stand B, and the action of the presserupon the loop as it lies on the point 0 is to bend it so it will beparallel with the base of the spring when the spring leaves the press.It will be seen that the mandrel is pointed, so that its wings fitwithin the spiral, and as the presser depresses it below the face of thestand the coils must lie uniformly upon the face of the stand; in otherwords, the mandrel so holds the spring that itcannot be bent side wisewhile being pressed, and hence when it recoils it will stand with itsaxis at right angles to its base, and the loop at the apex will eparallel with the base, thus making a perfect-formed spring.

WVhat I claim as new is The pin (1 should be no- 1. In a spring-press,the combination, substantially as set forth, of a press-stand, a mandrelwhich fits within the coils of the spring and works through the face ofthe press-stand,

and a presser which acts upon the spring and' mandrel, substantially asshown.

2. In a spring-press, the combination, substantially as set forth, of apress stand, a Winged mandrel which fits within the coils of the springand works through slots in the face of the said stand, and a presserwhich pushes the mandrel out of the spring and flattens the spring uponthe face of the presser-stand.

3. In a spring-press, the combination of the press-stand B, having slotsb I) b b, the mandrel 0, having wings c c o c, which move within saidslots in the press-stand, and the presser D, with the pin (1 in itsface, said parts operating substantially as and for the purposementioned.

4. In a spring-press, the combination of the press-stand B, withopenings 12 in its face, the

mandrel G, with stem 0, point 0, and wings 0 c 0 c, the lever O", andspring G, for moving said mandrel, the gagescrew of, for limiting themovement of said mandrel, the presser D, and thelever D, for moving saidpresser.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASA O. FV ALKER.

i tnesses: JNo. K. HALLooK, R0131. H. PORTER.

